NORRISTOWN — Gov. Tom Corbett proclaimed this week — Jan. 27 through Feb. 2 — as “Pennsylvania School Choice Week,” and it has opened the door to conversations on the controversial topic in local political circuits.

Across the country, National School Choice Week began Sunday, with more than 3,500 events planned to celebrate education reform and more than 80 in the Quaker State, alone.

According to Corbett’s press release, about half the nation’s governors are recognizing the week with official proclamations.

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“We are grateful that Governor Corbett has officially recognized School Choice Week in Pennsylvania,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week, in a press release.

“Millions of people in Pennsylvania and across the country are united in their view that access to a quality education can provide a ticket to the American dream for children nationwide.”

Locally, members on both sides of the aisle in the General Assembly have weighed in on the meaningfulness of this event, or lack thereof.

“I’m a proponent of school choice,” said State Rep. Kate Harper (R-61st of Montgomery County).

“I believe in the public schools as well and I don’t think any public school should feel threatened by the fact that parents choose other means of education for their children, in areas where the public schools are not doing a good job.”

Harper expressed her gratitude that the school systems within her legislative district — Colonial, Wissahickon and North Penn school districts, offer some of the better quality experiences than in other parts of the state, she said.

“Not all schools in Pennsylvania are as well-run or as fortunate, and I do believe that parents need to be able to send their children to the right school for the child. Pennsylvania has a long tradition of school choice, with people having options other than the public schools. Pennsylvania has a lot of children who were home-schooled. That’s the perfect option for some families and we should celebrate that.”

Harper said she would vote in favor of the Educational Investment Tax Credit (EITC), which allows businesses to donate money to non-public school programs, in exchange for a tax credit.

State Rep. Tim Briggs (D-149th of Montgomery County) said this area is home to some of the best public schools in the Commonwealth.

“A full voucher program would put those schools and all public schools in Pennsylvania in jeopardy — schools that are already struggling under Gov. Corbett’s harsh budget cuts to public education. Keep in mind we have a constitutional obligation to public education,” he said.

“I do support programs that put more money into helping kids in failing schools. In June, I voted to expand Gov. Rendell’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program and for a new scholarship program that targets kids from lower-income families who are attending failing schools.”

National School Choice Week is designed to highlight the achievements of public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, homeschooling and online learning. It claims to be an independent, public awareness campaign and nonpartisan in nature. The week is punctuated by a 14-stop, cross-country whistle stop tour, with events independently planned by students, parents, teachers, organizations and members of the community at large.

Dave Sherman is a spokesman for Colonial School District, which houses students from Conshohocken Borough and Plymouth and Whitemarsh townships. It encompasses two public high schools, one public middle school and five public elementary schools.

“Slightly more than a decade ago, 30 percent of students who lived in our district chose to attend private or parochial schools,” said Sherman.

“Today, that number is less than 18 percent. We are pleased that more and more families who live in the Colonial School District are choosing the quality public education that we offer.”

A spokesperson from Methacton School District declined to comment for purposes of this article.